Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-16
THERAILWAY HORROR
ENORMOUS LIST OF CASUALTIES IN THE
MASSACHUSETTS WRECK.
The Sbry Of an Bye Witness 10 the Disaster
Investigating Into the Cause Of It-Brays
Work Of the Rirsman-Sad Scenes
at the Bridge.

bridge disaster is the main topic of conyer-
satiOn.
The heroes of the sad affair are now re-
ceiying recognition.
f. F., Favor, u Boston merchant, who was
in the first car of the ill-fated train, says
that too much praise cannot be given the
firemen for the prOmptness and heroism
with which they faced their work. The
noise was simply terrible. The shrieking
Of the women was piercing and with the
groans of the wounded, caused men To
tremble. The women took it cOolly, how
ever. Some of the victims walked about
after the accident with broken arms and
though sadly bruised asked that help he
extended to others who needed aid.
+. A. Davidson passenger, says that
after the accident he ran to Forest Hills
depot and requested the man there to tele-
graph for medical and police assistance.
This man said his instructions in case of
accidents were to telegraph the Superin-
tendent only. Davidson went to grocery
sore and telegraphed for medical assist
alce.
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
Prof. George F. Swain, Instructor of Civil
engineering and Hydraulics ut the lnsti-
tute of Technology and a specialist on
bridge construction, has made close eX-
animation of the bridge where the accident
occurred. lie is reported rs saying that
the floor beam hangers We're defective and
nad been largely eaten away by rust; that
the quality of the material was imperfect
in some places, and that several portions
OF the bridge showed evidence OF faulty de
sign in the trustees.
While the discussion of the disaster was
at its height, report came that another
accident had occurred on the Providence
Railroad near Forest Hills. About seven
o'clock the local train between Boston and
Forest Hills was making n running switch
to bring the engine on the proper end for
the return train. The engine failed to run
far enough ahead and in consequence the
engine and heavy cars cOllided. One OF
the coaches was thrown across the main
track and badly damaged. The engine
and tender was also badly damaged and \
large hole made in the tank. \ wreckmg
train was summoned and the track was
cleared and traffic resumed.
Martin Lynch sub-ioreman, of West RoX-
bury paving department, was ut work yes
terday morning with gang of five men
cutting willows. The party was stationed
$50 feet from the bridge, ON the southeast
end of the structure, and every man had
an axe. Mr.. Lynch said this morning {:
I'VE had Just begun our work. saw the
train coming and stopped to look ut 1t. /
saw it 20 Oh the bridge, and noticed that
THE TRAM WAS ACTING QUEEE.
The engine and three cars were across, but
the whole train was shaking and Swaying
Then lust as the fourth car was half on
the bridge, aud half on the embank-
ment on the other side, the bridge
went down. The fifth ear plunged with
it, and in its fall dragged the Others back
and down into the pit below the fourth
car, which, rs have said WAS already half
way on the bank. The car behind the
fifth car, came plunging, crashing down on
it, and the last car Of all, the smoker,
rolled over twice as it went down the
embankment. My God, the bridge is
down; run boys and take your axes" ]
yelled. started rs fast as | could 90 and
they with me 1t was
AN lawful SIGHT.
Such struggling aud sighing, and moaning
1 never heard i'm all my life. Some OF
the passengers, who first succeeded IN get
ting clear of the wreck seemed dazed, be-
wildered, scarce able TO realize what had
happened or where they were. Others
could, and did help us, hut on the south
side OF the wreck there was no help for
fully ten minutes. The smoker was the
ear we came To first. Oar boys swung
their axes with will. We Knocked in IN
end Oi the car, cut way
between the windows and thrh
went i'm ourselves and began the work OF
rescue We saw the uniform OF Officer
Walter Il. Tailor and took him out. He
was unconscious when We reached HIM,
and probably dead although his lips quiv-
eTed for a minute or two after we laid him
ont beside the wall We took ont Mr..
Snow, who was dying and at least dozen
injured persons. BY this time teams began
to come, and we placed the wounded IN
them by twOS and threeS, and they were
carried of to the engine house at ROselInd.
People were flOcking to the place. can I
remember incidents with much diStIetneSs
after this, for /, too, was getting excited.
| only know that we kept working up till
10 O'Clock and stayed till all were taken
away
The Railroad Commissioners this after
noon began an investigation into the
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
The first witness was W. 4. Alden, one OF
the conductors on the fated train. lie
testified that the train when it reached the
bridge. was going at the rate Of twelve
miles an hour-the regular rate. There
were nine cars on the train-eight coaches
and combination car-the combination
car being in rear. The forward cars were
very well filled, hut witness could not say
about the rear cars. In the two forward
cars there were eighty or ninety paSSen-
gers.
when did You notice anything out OF
the way?' asked the chairman.
II did not have time to notice any
thing" replied the witness.
The first he knew he was sitting on the
floor with the cushions OF seats all around
him. There were only three or four IN
the car when he picked himself up. The
Others having got out Of the door and
windows. As soon as he recovered bis
senses somewhat he looked in the car for
injured persons, but found none, nor IN
the'ear behind.
In his questions by Chairman Crocker,
witness said he had never felt any peculiar
motion of that bridge in going over IT; had
never ielt any jar of the train as 1t was
leaving the bridge, and had never told
anybody that he did not like that bridge.